The siderophore 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid is not required for virulence ofBrucella abortus in BALB/c mice

2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) is the only siderophore described for Bruc ella, and previous studies suggested that DHBA might contribute to the capa city of these organisms to persist in host macrophages. Employing an isogen ic siderophore mutant (Delta entC) constructed from virulent Brucella abort us 2308, however, we found that production of DHBA is not required for repl ication in cultured murine macrophages or for the establishment and mainten ance of chronic infection in the BALB/c mouse model.